Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori

WORSHIP 97
PŪJĀ
This word is the common term for worship of which
there are numerous synonyms in the Sanskrit language. 1
Pūjā is done daily of the Iṣṭ a-devatā or the particular
Deity worshipped by the sādhaka—the Devī in the case
of a Śākta, Viṣṇ u in the case of a Vaiṣṇ ava, and so forth.
But though the Iṣṭ a-devatā is the principal object of
worship, yet in pūjā all worship the Pañca-devatā, or the
Five Devās—Aditya (the Sun), Gaṇ eśa, the Devī, Śiva,
and Viṣṇ u or Nārāyana. After worship of the Pañcadevata
the family Deity (Kula-devatā), who is generally
the same as the Iṣṭ a-devata, is worshipped. Pūjā, which
is kāmya, or done to gain a particular end as also vrata,
are preceded by the saṃkalpa; that is, a statement of
the resolution to do the worship; as also of the particular
object, if any, with which it is done. 2
There are sixteen upacāras, or things done or used
in pūjā; (1) āsana (seat of the image); (2) svāgata (welcome);
(3) padya (water for washing the feet); (4) arghya
(offering of unboiled rice, flowers, sandal paste, durva
grass, 3 etc., to the Devatā) in the kushī, (vessel); (5 and
6) ācamana (water for sipping, which is offered twice);
(7) madhuparlia (honey, ghee, milk, and curd offered in
a silver or brass vessel); (8) snāna (water for bathing);
(9) vasana (cloth); (10) ābharaṇ a (jewels); (11) gandha
(scent and sandal paste is given); (12) puṣpa (flowers);
(13) dhūpa (incense stick); (14) dīpa (light); (15) naivedya
1 Such as arcanā, vandanā, saparyyā, arhanā, namasyā, arcā, bhajanā, etc.
2 It runs in the form: “I—of gotra—etc., am about to perrorm this pūjā (or
vrata) with the object,” etc.
3 Kuśa grass is used only in pitṛ -kriyā or śrāddha, and in homa. Arghya
is of two kinds—sāmānya (general), and viśeṣa (special).